Electronic device pairing

Abstract

A computing device comprises a logic subsystem and a storage subsystem holding instructions executable by the logic subsystem to transmit a first identifier of the computing device to a separate electronic device, the first identifier being transmitted during one time frame of a plurality of sequential time frames. A second identifier of the computing device is transmitted to the electronic device, the second identifier including more data than the first identifier, the second identifier being transmitted over two or more time frames of the plurality of sequential time frames. An electronic pairing is established between the computing device and the electronic device based at least in part on one or both of the first and second identifiers, the electronic pairing enabling receiving of control inputs from the electronic device at the computing device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A computing device, comprising:
 a logic subsystem; and 
 a storage subsystem holding instructions executable by the logic subsystem to:
 transmit a first identifier of the computing device to a separate stylus, the first identifier being transmitted during one time frame of a plurality of sequential time frames; 
 transmit a second identifier of the computing device to the stylus, the second identifier being transmitted over two or more time frames of the plurality of sequential time frames; and 
 establish an electronic pairing between the computing device and the stylus based at least in part on one or both of the first and second identifiers such that, in cases where the computing device has previously been paired with the stylus, the electronic pairing is established while at least a portion of the second identifier has yet to be transmitted, and in cases where the computing device has not previously been paired with the stylus, the electronic pairing is established after the second identifier is transmitted, wherein the electronic pairing enables receiving of control inputs from the stylus at the computing device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first identifier is a 10-bit value. 
     
     
       3. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first identifier is transmitted in response to detecting a proximity of the stylus to the computing device. 
     
     
       4. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable to repeatedly transmit the first identifier regardless of a proximity of the stylus to the computing device. 
     
     
       5. The computing device of  claim 4 , wherein the instructions are further executable to receive an acknowledgement from the stylus confirming receipt of the first identifier, and discontinue repeated transmission of the first identifier in response to the acknowledgement. 
     
     
       6. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the control inputs received by the computing device from the stylus include instructions for synchronizing a frame timing cycle of the computing device with a frame timing cycle of the stylus. 
     
     
       7. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device includes a touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
       8. The computing device of  claim 7 , wherein the instructions are further executable to detect a proximity of the stylus to the computing device by detecting a change in electrostatic properties of the touch-sensitive display consistent with the proximity of the stylus. 
     
     
       9. A stylus, comprising:
 a logic subsystem comprising one or more processors; and 
 a storage subsystem holding instructions executable by the one or more processors to:
 receive, from a computing device, a first identifier of the computing device, the first identifier transmitted on one time frame of a plurality of sequential time frames of the computing device; 
 receive, from the computing device, a second identifier of the computing device, the second identifier being transmitted over two or more time frames of the plurality of sequential time frames; and 
 establish an electronic pairing between the stylus and the computing device based at least in part on one or both of the first identifier and the second identifier such that, in cases where the stylus has previously been paired with the computing device, the electronic pairing is established after receiving the first identifier and while at least a portion of the second identifier has yet to be received, and in cases where the stylus has not previously been paired with the computing device, the electronic pairing is established after the first identifier and the second identifier are received, wherein the electronic pairing enables transmission of control inputs from the stylus to the computing device. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The stylus of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further executable to, after receiving the first identifier from the computing device, compare the first identifier to a stored table of prior first identifiers corresponding to prior computing devices that the stylus has previously paired with. 
     
     
       11. The stylus of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further executable to, upon determining that the stored table includes a selected prior first identifier that matches the first identifier received from the computing device, initiate pairing based at least in part on the selected prior first identifier. 
     
     
       12. The stylus of  claim 11 , wherein the selected prior first identifier is associated with a selected prior second identifier corresponding to the prior computing device that the stylus has previously paired with, and the instructions are further executable to, upon determining that the second identifier received from the computing device does not match the selected prior second identifier, generate a new entry in the stored table for the computing device, the new entry including the first identifier and the second identifier. 
     
     
       13. The stylus of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further executable to, upon determining that the first identifier received from the computing device does not match any of the prior first identifiers in the stored table, generate a new entry in the stored table for the computing device, the new entry including the first identifier and the second identifier. 
     
     
       14. The stylus of  claim 9 , wherein the control inputs transmitted from the stylus to the computing device include instructions for synchronizing a frame timing cycle of the stylus with a frame timing cycle of the computing device. 
     
     
       15. A method for active stylus pairing, the method comprising:
 detecting proximity of an active stylus to a computing device including a touch-sensitive display; 
 responsive to detecting the proximity of the active stylus to the computing device, 
 transmitting a first identifier of the computing device to the active stylus, the first identifier being transmitted during one time frame of a plurality of sequential time frames; 
 transmitting a second identifier of the computing device to the active stylus, the second identifier being transmitted over two or more time frames of the plurality of sequential time frames; and 
 establishing an electronic pairing between the computing device and the active stylus based at least in part on one or both of the first and second identifiers such that, in cases where the computing device has previously paired with the active stylus, the electronic pairing is established while at least a portion of the second identifier has yet to be transmitted, and in cases where the computing device has not previously been paired with the active stylus, the electronic pairing is established after the second identifier is transmitted, wherein the electronic pairing enables receiving of control inputs from the active stylus at the computing device.